1 Does not *See ch. 1:20wisdom call?

Does not *Job 28:12understanding raise her voice?

2 On *ch. 9:3,14the heights beside the way,

at the crossroads she takes her stand;

3 beside *ch. 1:21the gates in front of *Job 29:7the town,

at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud:

4 "To you, O *[Ps. 49:1,2]men, I call,

and my cry is to *[Ps. 49:1,2]the children of man.

5 O *See ch. 1:4simple ones, learn *ver. 12prudence;

O *[ch. 1:22]fools, learn sense.

6 Hear, for I will speak *[ch. 22:20] noble things,

and from my lips will come *ch. 23:16what is right,

7 for my *Ps. 37:30mouth will utter truth;

wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

8 All the words of my mouth are righteous;

there is nothing *Deut. 32:5twisted or crooked in them.

9 They are all *[ch. 14:6;1 Cor. 2:10]straight to him who understands,

and right to those who find knowledge.

10 *ver. 19;ch. 3:14;Ps. 119:72,127Take my instruction instead of silver,

and knowledge rather than choice gold,

11 *[ch. 16:16]; See Job 28:12-19for wisdom is better than jewels,

and *ch. 3:15all that you may desire cannot compare with her.

12 "I, wisdom, dwell with prudence,

and I find knowledge and *ch. 1:4discretion.

13 *[ch. 16:6] The fear of the Lord is *See Ps. 97:10hatred of evil.

*[ch. 6:17;16:5] Pride and arrogance and the way of evil

and *ch. 2:12;4:24perverted speech I hate.

14 I have *Isa. 11:2;[Isa. 9:6] counsel and *[ch. 2:7] sound wisdom;

I have insight; *Eccles. 7:19;[Ps. 89:19]I have strength.

15 By me *[Dan. 2:21;Rom. 13:1;Rev. 19:16]kings reign,

and rulers decree what is just;

16 by me princes rule,

and nobles, all who govern justly.*8:16 Most Hebrew manuscripts; many Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint govern the earth

17 *Ps. 91:14;John 14:21;[1 Sam. 2:30] I love those who love me,

and *James 1:5;[ch. 1:28]those who seek me diligently find me.

18 *ch. 3:16Riches and honor are with me,

*Ps. 112:3;[Matt. 6:33;Luke 16:11;Eph. 3:8]enduring wealth and *Ps. 112:3;[Matt. 6:33;Luke 16:11;Eph. 3:8]righteousness.

19 My fruit is *ch. 3:14better than *ver. 10gold, even fine gold,

and my yield than *ch. 10:20choice silver.

20 I walk in the way of righteousness,

in the paths of justice,

21 granting an inheritance to those who love me,

and filling their treasuries.

22 *See Job 28:25-28"The Lord*Gen. 14:19,22;[Ps. 104:24;136:5] possessed*8:22 Or fathered; Septuagint created me at the beginning of his work,*8:22 Hebrew way

the first of his acts *Ps. 93:2of old.

23 Ages ago I was *Ps. 2:6set up,

at the first, *[John 17:5]before the beginning of the earth.

24 When there were no *ver. 27, 28;ch. 3:20;Gen. 1:2depths I was *Job 15:7;Ps. 51:5brought forth,

when there were no springs abounding with water.

25 Before the mountains *Job 38:6(Heb.)had been shaped,

*Ps. 90:2before the hills, I was brought forth,

26 before he had made the earth with its fields,

or the first of the dust of the world.

27 When he *ch. 3:19established the heavens, I was there;

when he drew *Job 26:10a circle on the face of the deep,

28 when he *Gen. 1:6made firm the skies above,

when he established*8:28 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain the fountains of the deep,

29 when he *Gen. 1:9,10assigned to the sea its *See Job 26:10limit,

so that the waters might not transgress his command,

when he marked out *See Ps. 104:5the foundations of the earth,

30 then *Zech. 13:7;[John 1:1,2] I was beside him, like a master workman,

and I was daily his*8:30 Or daily filled with*Ps. 16:3;[Matt. 3:17]delight,

rejoicing before him always,

31 *[Gen. 1:31;Ps. 104:31] rejoicing in his *Isa. 45:18inhabited world

and delighting in the children of man.

32 "And now, *ch. 5:7;7:24;[1 John 3:1] O sons, listen to me:

*Ps. 119:1,2;128:1,2;[Luke 11:28]blessed are those who keep my ways.

33 *See ch. 4:1Hear instruction and be wise,

and do not neglect it.

34 *[ch. 3:13]Blessed is the one who listens to me,

watching daily at my gates,

waiting beside my doors.

35 For *ch. 3:18;See ch. 4:22whoever finds me *John 1:4;17:3finds life

and *ch. 12:2;18:22obtains favor from the Lord,

36 but he who fails to find me *[ch. 15:32;20:2;29:24] injures himself;

all who *ch. 12:1hate me *ch. 21:6love death."